The shocking secret about depression (that pharmaceutical companies don't want you to know)

Depression is good.

Shocked?

I would have been shocked too if someone told me this when I was at my lowest point.

How could feeling like shit be a good thing?

Well, let me rephrase it slightly:

Depression is awful, but the AWARENESS of feeling depressed is a good thing.

The awareness of feeling depressed is a clear sign that something in life needs to change.

It means that your “Guidance System” is working.

Imagine for a moment, you don’t feel pain when you place your hand on a hot stove.

Superpower or super-fucking-dangerous?

Or what if the gas gauge on your car is broken? Does this mean you never need to fill up and refuel? Of course not, it just means that your alert system isn’t working.

Or, for another driving analogy, imagine you’re veering off the highway but the “rumble strips” are not there. Wouldn’t you want to be jostled and alerted that you’re about to careen off the highway?

Remember this…If you are AWARE that you are feeling depressed, you are in the perfect position to ask why!

Becoming curious is the best way to start moving from the darkness toward the light. It’s how you can make decisions that will help your situation, such as beginning a meditation practice or finding a therapist or coach you can trust.

But…this is NOT what the big pharmaceutical companies want. They don’t want you to use depression as the guidance it is intended to be.

They simply want you to feel that depression is “bad” and that not having depression is “good”.

Putting a bandaid on a bullet wound may stop the bleeding temporarily, however, it won’t help close the wound and save your life.

Now I’m not a doctor, and there are times when popping a pill is the best course of action. However, it’s typically not the ONLY course of action, especially when we know that our emotions are guiding us…and when we know that by numbing the “bad” emotions we also numb the good ones. (Perhaps this is why most antidepressant medications come with a laundry list of serious warnings.)

It’s also important to note that depression often arises after we’ve been repressed for too long. This, simply put, means that we are not expressing ourselves as we are meant to.

Lack of expression leads to repression, which eventually leads to depression.

So, in summary…depression sucks.

However, being aware that you are depressed is a great thing, as it’s the first step to ask why and begin making changes in your life.

So, instead of asking “How can I make this depression go away?” ask yourself “What is this depression telling me?” and “How can I begin to express myself more authentically?”

…then get really quiet as the answers are revealed to you in the silence.

I’m currently focusing my energy on coaching and sharing messages like these in workshops, at conferences, and in front of audiences who desire to live with more peace and less stress. If you’re interested in working together, book a call …let’s see if it’s a great fit!

Mike’s quote of the week:

“Imagine tomorrow I awaken with only what I appreciate today.” -MM

What I’m pondering:

Who wins by keeping society sick and asleep?

Things I’ve shared recently:

“How to appreciate more in your life”

When I walk I think, and I miss the walk…

Do you find value in these stories? Consider forwarding this email to friends, family, and coworkers…I truly appreciate you!

Enjoy the journey,

Mike